It’s no secret water babies love their aqua blues: the final March Color Madness match-up was two shades of turquoise (the winning hue won against Caribbean Teal), reaffirming its seemingly unlimited coastal cred. But you rallied around the lighter shade; we love it, too! Coastal Living editors see turquoise’s dominance as a fun coastal style challenge: in 2015, how will you use it […]

Lucite and acrylic pieces are a solid trend in the marketplace right now, and we think they are the perfect choice for a beach home because of their airy feel—see our round-up in the March issue (page 15). Below are more of our favorite translucent finds! Shed some light on a space with a sleek acrylic lamp featuring a pink […]

Our 2015 March Color Madness final four has almost been decided, and so far it’s a beautiful mix of ocean-going shades. Today’s color clash is Coral vs. Key West Blue, two quintessentially beachy hues that we are smitten with. Which of them will round out our final four? Help us decide by voting today! Which hue will be crowned Coastal Color of the Year? […]

Each year, we design our Coastal Living Showhouse to inspire new ideas for beach houses from coast to coast. We like to pair fresh looks with clever design solutions, indoors and out—after all, isn’t the beach the best place to clear your head and creative? Take this design idea from last year’s Showhouse in Coronado, California, which offers a […]

By editor-in-chief Antonia van der Meer The living room windows in this British Columbia house open wide to invite the outdoors in. We all instinctively know that being close to nature can decrease our stress levels and improve our moods. This rustic cottage, designed by its owner, April Tidey, is a case in point. The color palette is purposely […]

By editor-in-chief Antonia van der Meer What is it about bright colors? I feel like a magpie, incapable of turning away and drawn helplessly toward the sparkle. On the coast, the same hues seem richer and even more magnetic, as if they get souped-up power from the blue skies and water views beyond. The right combination of colors always energizes […]

By editor-in-chief Antonia van der Meer I’ve found that the simplest, least complicated design elements are often the most soothing. This glass vase contains nothing more than two green palm fronds, and yet it completely captures my attention. Arranged on a side table along with a leather-bound book and a decorative object, the grouping forms a beautiful still life. This […]

By travel editor Tracey Minkin One of my favorite ways to spend a spring Saturday in West Palm Beach, Florida, is a leisurely shopping expedition up and down South Dixie Highway, scouting for finds. And what a find is HIVE Home, Gift & Garden, a glowing, chic emporium of sophisticated coastal style. Palm Beach interior designer Sara McCann is the Queen Bee […]

At a recent Showhouse meeting at her Manhattan digs, designer Meg Braff unveiled a host of exciting decorating plans for this year’s house in East Hampton (opening this summer). Editor-in-chief Antonia van der Meer was there to weigh in on the palettes and patterns, furniture ideas and finishes on tap for the 7,000 square-foot, shingle-style home, and here she shares a few details on what she […]

Yurt: [noun] 1) a circular domed tent of fabric or animal hide stretched over a collapsible lattice framework 2) an ultra-chic outdoor guest room, and clever solution for small beach cottages that are big on style but short on space. In our April issue, which just arrived on newsstands, Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan welcomes us into his East Hampton […]